Cowon iAudio M3

[dipnorge]

Just discovered the existance of this product surfing the web.

Anybody have any experience with it? It sure looks nice!

 

[Big D]

I'm sorry to point out the blatantly obvious but there is a search feature on the forums. It is quite easy to find several threads and reviews that way.

 

[StevieDvd]

Yes I have one.

It sounds good.

Build quality great, very solid.

Does not do lossless formats, does wma, mp3, ogg, wav

The remote lcd is very small and hard to read the tiny writing.

Support is good and firmware is being updated frequently - a good sign that they are on the case.

Connects via USB2 either via the dock or via a mini-dock

Has line-in, line-out, usb & power connections on both docks.

Appears as a hard-disk in Windows so you can just drag & drop like any internal/external drive.

You cannot listen to it when it's connected via USB except of course via the PC (it's a standard drive in that respect).

Earphones usual standard for these things would recommend better set.

Does that help?

In my opinion it make the Ipod design look plasticky & dated - I won't knock Ipods as I've never used one so I cannot compare the two.

You'll find mentions of problems with remotes but this is supposedly all fixed now - no problems with mine or my mates one.

You have to be prepared to say "I have a Cowon" and have non descript earphones rather than "Look I've got white earphones and an Ipod - mug me please!"

 

[dipnorge]

Thanks, Big D. Just seem to have overlooked it.

 

[bangraman]

I'm out to lunch about this. Will be more sure in a week or so.


I've got the 40Gb version. It's come just after a 40Gb iPod, prior to which I've owned (and still own a couple) the Zen, NJB3, smaller capacity iPods, iPod Mini, iRiver H. I'm sure there's one I missed but I can't think of what it was.


Pros so far: It's small for a device of this class, and has the things you want from a player + records and a radio. The built in voice recording (as with all other voice recording machines like the iHP series, which I've also owned) is handy, especially as I used to keep forgetting to take the iTalk on the iPod. Battery life is good.


Remote-centric operation not a particular handicap to me. Build quality is OK... not stellar, yet not substandard. In terms of physical design, worse than Apple/Sony, but more taste than iRiver. Think Creative + a bit of sleek or third-tier Japanese manufacturer and you're there. A working, customisable 5-band EQ + a large potential combination of sound-mangling effects. On the fly playlist is supported.


Cons so far: Very long boot up time when only half filled (and tracks are changed). Remote is sometimes hard to read. Simiarly counterintuitive UI to iRiver, if not slightly worse... your fingers have to always 'think' before moving. Mobile dock looks pretty fragile. Does not record WAVs, 512MB maximum single file size limit for record. Cannot spot an AGC control, and while fine recording from portables, distorted badly with a line input from a deck (which are much hotter than they used to be) with seemingly no way to compensate. No digital I or O onboard.


Sound judgement is not yet forthcoming.

 

[bangraman]

Wow... the lack of a display really fools your eyes.


I thought this was significantly smaller than the 3G 40Gb... but since I gave away the 3G, I was relying on my memory. I've just borrowed it back to shoot some pictures and also to run an EQ test that I wanted to do, and... well, as people say in the UK, bugger me if the M3 isn't actually bigger (or rather, just a tiny bit thicker)!

(as you can see, the M3 has a tapering back... so it's technically not as big)

While the remote display's nothing on the iPod, I guess it is better than Hi-MD. Although the Hi-MD remote looks nicer and IMO has a saner navigation system.
(The backlight is ON on the Hi-MD remote, in case you're wondering.)

 

[austonia]

nice shots bangraman. iPod continues to put most other players into perspective, size-wize.